Thief signal



Sept. 25, 1945. I s JOHNSON 2,385,707

THIEF S IGNAL Filed May 1. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a 6. db & n60 n, INVENTOR.

Sept. 25, 1945. 'c. s. JOHNSON 2,335,707

THIEF SIGNAL Filed May 1, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ElciEh Patented Sept. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THIEF SIGNAL Charles S. Johnson, Albany, Ga., assignor of fifty per cent to H. H. Williamson Application May 1, 1942, Serial No. 441,356

(01. 200-52) This invention relates to a thief signal, de-

1 Claim.

signed primarily for use in connection with motor vehicles, the primary object of the invention being to provide an electric signalling mechanism connected in circuit with the usual horn of a vehicle, to sound the horn intermittently, or continuously, when an unauthorized person attempts to move the vehicle.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be exceptionally sensitive, to the end that the signal will operate under the slightest vertical movement of the vehicle, should an attempt be made to jack up the vehicle to remove a wheel or tire therefrom.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for causing the operation of the signal in the event that an unauthorized person endeavors to raise the hood of the vehicle, in an attempt to gain access to the control mechanism to render the control mechanism inoperative.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the switch mechanism of the device may be adjusted, so that the vehicle equipped with the device may be parked on side hills, or sloping surfaces.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the switch, and illustrating the switch as installed on the dashboard of a motor vehicle.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the switch.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the switch, portions of the main support or body of the switch being broken away and shown in section.

Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the circuit between the switch and horn of the motor vehicle.

Figure 5 is a side elevational View of the switch, illustrating the manner of adjusting the arm of the switch, so that the vehicle may be parked on a sloping surface.

Figure 6 is an elevational view, illustrating the switch as having been moved to a position where the vehicle may be parked on a side hill.

Referring to the drawings in detail the device comprises a body portion indicated generally by the reference character 5, the body portion being substantially long and provided with an opening near the upper end thereof, through which the securing bolt 6 extends. This securing bolt 6 is formed with an eye 1 and is insulated with respect to the body portion 5. The bolt 6 provides a support for the device, and as shown, extends through the dashboard of the vehicle. The connection between the body portion 5 and bolt 6, is such that under normal conditions, the body portion will be held against movement. However, the body portion may be tilted to the right or left, by merely grasping the lower end of the body portion and moving it the desired distance. Thus it will be seen that the position of the body portion 5 may be changed with respect to the vertical.

Secured to the body portion 5, at a point near the lower end thereof, is a contact ring 8 which is in circut with the horn A of the vehicle, through the wires 9 and it), there being provided a switch H in the circuit for closing the circuit. The ground wire of the circuit is indicated by the reference character I2.

The reference character l3 designates the movable arm of the switch, which is formed with a loop 14 at its upper end, extended through the eye I, as clearly shown by the drawings. The lower end of the movable arm I 3 extends through the contact ring 8 and is held normally in a position substantially centrally of the contact ring 8, by the weight l5 that is secured to the free end of the arm I 3 to act as a, pendulum.

Secured to one edge of the body portion 5, is a pivoted arm 15 that has an upwardly extended end I! to which the link is is connected, the link l8 being in turn, connected to the wire I9 which is connected to the under surface of the hood of the vehicle. A spring 23 is interposed in the wire, to lend resiliency to the connection and insure against displacement of the wire with respect to the hood, should the hood be raised suddenly.

The extremity of the upwardly extended portion 17. of the arm It, extends laterally, providing a finger 2!, that rests between the movable arm l3, and the body portion, under normal conditions. Thus it will be seen that when the hood is elevated, and the link I 8 is drawn upwardly, the finger 2| will be moved outwardly against the arm I 3, swinging the arm against the contact ring to complete the circuit to the horn A.

It might be further stated that a cross arm 22 is provided at the upper end of the link [8 and provides a stop to prevent the link from being drawn too far through the opening of the dashboard of the vehicle.

Should it be desired to park the vehicle on a 6 side hill, it is only necessary to move the body portion to a vertical position, or to a position wherein the arm 13 will swing in the center of the contact ring; It should be obvious that after this adjustment has been made, any-movement of the vehicle will cause the arm [3 to engage the contact ring, completing the circuit to the horn;

While the bolt 6 provides means for supporting the arm l3, the bolt also provides the groundfor the circuit completed by the arm-l3 engaging-=15 the contact ring.

Should it be desired to adjust the arm l3 towards or away from the dashboard of the vehi-- cle, in parking the vehicle up or down-hill; the

arm l3 may be bent in a manner as shown by Fig; 5,'-so that when'the ar-m hangs vertically, the arm will clear thecontact ring.

Fr m the foregoing it will be seen-"that due to the construction shown and described; the arm l3 will move to engage the contact ring'when the 1 vehicle on which it is supported,is moved in-practically any direction, the slightest degree, to the end that it would be impossible to jack up the automobile to remove a tire or wheel without causing a signal.

What is claimed is:

A circuit closer comprising a support, an eye bolt extending through the support adjacent to the upper end thereof, said eye bolt adapted to extend into the dash board of a motor vehicle,

"securing the support to the dash board, a contor "vehicle is moved out of 7 its normal inclined position? p CHARLES s. JOHNSON. 

